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The Saunterer. That's me, H. Charles Romesburg, Professor in the Department of Environment and Society, Utah State University. As part of my research I saunter through the writings of especially creative people, keeping an eye open for insightful ideas on subjects that are joined with great goodness and creativity. I will in this blog present ideas from the writings of more than three hundred of these creators: painters, scientists, mathematicians, entrepreneurs, writers, poets, naturalists, actors, rock climbers and more. Among the subjects that will be covered: How workers in most every vocation and avocation can work as artists do, creating use, beauty, or both, of rare note. How regularly experiencing wild nature makes us better creators. How it is that the more all forms of life come to be revered, the more creative society will be. For some of the other subjects that will be covered, click on cnr.usu.edu/romesburg

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December 28, 2012

Amelia Earhart advised women to compete

How can there be equality of the sexes if women shy from competing? As Amelia Earhart emphasized:

Now and then women should do for themselves what men have already done -- occasionally what men have not done -- thereby establishing themselves as persons, and perhaps encouraging other women toward greater independence of thought and action.

(Quoted from page 202 of The Life of the Creative Spirit, by H. Charles Romesburg. Xlibris, 2001.) For a brief biography of Amelia Earhart, click here. For images of or relating to Amelia Earhart, click here.

Comments

If Amelia Earhart encourages competing as the way of finding themselves as persons I would challenge that thinking as merely mimicking what men have already done throughout the ages. If a woman competes to prove to men that she is valuable or has person-hood then she fails to embrace the power of the feminine. When we interpret competition in the paradigm of winning/dominating/oppressing then we elevate narcissism which in turn perpetuates segregation of humans.
If we could encourage nurturing as the way of finding ourselves as persons I would postulate that the world would drop barriers of race, culture, religion and whatever else divides us into competitive ‘teams.’
If I enter a race and cross the finish line first do I alone take the glory or do I embrace those who come after because they added to the atmosphere of the competition? Racing alone fails to encourage pushing ourselves to higher limits. In competing against another in the spirit of nurturing one another it will lead to a healthier race. Not that everyone wins (or gets A’s) but the regard for those ahead and behind realizes significance also.
If we strive for equality competition is not the avenue to achieve such equality. The glass ceiling cannot be broken by merely becoming another form of maleness. A competing, assertive woman is just seen as a bitch not a female of worth. Femaleness has historically been referred to as weak and dependent. The women of the 21rst century are proving their prowess in leading not by mimicking males but by the expression of community and teamwork.
I think Amelia’s own words in her biography indicates that she thought “partnership” and “duo-control” essential for success. In her last letter to her husband before she left for her around-the-world flight she wrote:
"Please know I am quite aware of the hazards," she said. "I want to do it because I want to do it. Women must try to do things as men have tried. When they fail, their failure must be but a challenge to others." Even in her ‘failure’ she encourages others to reach for the unreachable, challenging them in a nurturing way not in a competitive egotistical manner.
True equality lies in this perspective.

H Charles Romesburg: Best Research PracticesThe Saunterer’s new book (2009), Best Research Practices explains how to plan and carry out reliable experiments, how to conceive and circumstantially support research hypotheses, how to test research hypotheses with the hypothetico-deductive method, how to discover cause and effect, and more. It’s based on his examination of 5,000 top scientific articles, studying the methods used to produce reliable knowledge. Preview it on-line by going to the following link:
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